Passavant Area Hospital has expanded women’s health care providers with the opening of a renovated constructing on its campus.

An open home was held Thursday at Passavant’s Women’s Health Center, which opened Jan. 2 and permits women within the Jacksonville space higher entry to obstetric and gynecologic care, together with care associated to high-risk pregnancies.

The center is at 610 N. Westgate Ave. on the northwest nook of Passavant’s campus.

“Passavant serves rural communities in which women tend to have restricted access to specialized health care compared to women living in more urban communities,” stated Harry Schmidt, Passavant president and chief government officer. “We are happy our new Women’s Health Center will provide women increased access to the basic and specialized care not previously available to them.”

Schmidt defined how the center was developed.

“When we revised out medical manpower plan, we noticed that we were short on the number of OB/GYN providers for the service area population,” he stated. “That was the impetus then for the Women’s Health Center initiative. Our approach was to increase the number of health care providers through partnership with SIU (Southern Illinois University) School of Medicine and increase capacity with expanded facilities, thereby increasing access to care and services.”

Since opening Jan. 2, the center has had 903 affected person visits, which is the very best variety of OB/GYN visits in a single month that Passavant has on document, in accordance with Schmidt.

With the center’s opening, women who want entry to look after a high-risk being pregnant have the choice to obtain these specialised providers at Passavant as an alternative of driving to Springfield or past. Dr. Robert Abrams, affiliate professor and division chief for maternal-fetal drugs on the SIU School of Medicine, has expanded his apply to see sufferers with high-risk pregnancies on the center.

The center is staffed by three physicians, Alexander Hrynewych, Jeffrey Olejnik and Alexander Raw; and one household nurse practitioner, Caitlen Wiese. Raw and Wiese are new additions to the Women’s Health Center.

“I think it’s really nice that this Women’s Health Center provides a warm and welcoming environment, especially since we see patients in all stages of life,” Raw stated. “We want women to feel comfortable with their health care providers so that they are more willing to bring up any health care concerns they may have.”

Wiese stated the elevated area is also a profit.

“With our expanded rooms, we’re able to see more patients from the Jacksonville community and surrounding towns,” she stated.

As a part of the creation of the Women’s Health Center, the Passavant Area Hospital Foundation offered a $100,000 grant for the expansion and improvement of women’s health providers on the Passavant campus. The grant was made attainable by unrestricted donations for biggest want given by group people and companies.

Greg Olson might be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1224, or on Twitter @JCNews_Greg.